Issued: 11:00am, Sunday, 26th February 2023
As voting in Nigeria’s Presidential and National Assembly elections ends and collation of results begins, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room wishes to commend Nigerians for coming out in large numbers and showing patience and restraint during the election process. Although voting was scheduled to end at 2:30 pm, voters who joined the queues before that time were permitted to vote.
Preliminary reports from our field observers and partners deployed by the Situation Room across the country indicate as follows:
Opening and Closing of Polls
The Situation Room observed that there was delayed deployment of election officials and materials across the country, leading to late commencement of accreditation and voting in more than 70 per cent of the polling units visited. In Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers, and Kaduna states as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), there were significant delays in commencement of polls with several polling units opening as late as 11.30 am. In 13 states, some polling units did not open as at the official closing of polls by 2.30 pm. Delays in opening of polls created a corresponding problem of late closing of polls in many places. Situation Room observers reported that less than 35 per cent of polling units visited closed by 2.30 pm. The late opening and closing of polls subjected the voters, many of whom arrived the polling units very early in the morning, to unpleasant voting.
Functionality of BVAS
Situation Room networks of Observers reported that the BVAS functioned satisfactorily in many polling units visited. However, in 14 per cent of the polling units, there were glitches including failure of the device to start, failure to authenticate voters, discharge of battery, and intermittent power malfunctioning. These challenges further marred the experience of voters in those polling units.
Disruption of voting
The Situation Room received reports of disruption of voting in some states, including Lagos, Enugu, Kogi, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Imo and Rivers states. These acts of violence reflected in snatching and destruction of ballot boxes and other election materials, use of violence to disperse voters, and thuggery. The Situation room observers reported that there were tensions and violent incidents in 11 per cent of the polling units visited, and that some of these incidents occurred in the presence of security personnel, who appeared unable or unwilling to intervene. In 84 per cent of the polling units visited, Situation Room observers reported adequate presence of security personnel, yet the activities of hoodlums could not be contained. Unfortunately, a few journalists were also attacked by party supporters during these incidents. At least one journalist, Haruna Mohammed Salisu of WikkiTimes, was also taken into custody in one of these incidents in Bauchi State. On a positive note, Situation Room observed that security personnel on election duty were largely civil, non-partisan and of good conduct.
Upload of Election Results to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV)
Situation Room observed that IReV portal did not go live on time; 0% of the presidential results were transmitted on the IReV portal as at 8pm. While results for the Senate and House of Representatives elections went live at about 4:00pm. We also received reports of INEC polling officials’ inability to access the IRev portal to upload the Presidential results in particular. Situation Room had expected that there will be a quick upload of results to improve and make the collation process more transparent as this has always been the weakest link in the electoral process. Furthermore, Situation Room notes that most of the Senatorial results uploaded were not legible. There were also reports of Presiding Officers who either refused or were unable to upload results.
Knowledge of Election Procedures by INEC Ad Hoc Staff
About 72 per cent of the INEC ad-hoc staff explained the voting process and displayed good use of the BVAS. In many polling units, voters showed poor understanding of voting procedures and the electoral process. It was also noticed that voting cubicles in many of the polling units were not well positioned to ensure secrecy of the ballots.
Women, PWDs and other Vulnerable Groups
Situation Room observers reported that INEC ad hoc staff in many instances, gave priority to Persons with Disabilities, elderly persons, and pregnant women in most of the polling units observed. Situation Room received reports and data from its partner organisation, the Albino Foundation (TAFAFRICA), showing that Braille Ballot Guides were available in only 26 out of the 273 polling units visited. In addition, magnifying glasses were available in 60 out of the 273 polling units visited, while Large Font Posters were available in 90 out of the 273 visited.
Conclusion
The Situation Room commends Nigerians on their resilience and determination to vote and encourages them to remain patient and peaceful as they await the collation of results and declaration of winners. Situation Room enjoins INEC to be consistent with the legal framework and guidelines for elections, to be transparent and credible in the collation of results. Situation Room also enjoins INEC to take stock of polling units where election did not take place and make them public. The Situation Room advocates for more vigilance by the security agencies in the post-election period. Finally, the Situation Room calls on the political parties, their candidates and supporters to exercise restraint while awaiting collation of results and declaration of winners. In particular, the presidential candidates should conduct themselves in line with the spirit and letters of the Peace Agreement which they endorsed.
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SIGNED:
Ene Obi
Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Asma’u Joda
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
James Ugochukwu
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room